In healthy people, the rash, blisters, and pain of shingles usually go away in about 3 to 5 weeks. Although shingles can make you very uncomfortable while you have it, it usually is not dangerous to healthy people. But in people with a weakened immune system, shingles can be life-threatening. You should see your doctor immediately if you think you may have any complications of shingles. He or she can help provide treatment and watch your progress.

Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN)

PHN is the most common complication of shingles. It is a condition in which severe pain from shingles may last for months, and sometimes years, after the shingles rash has healed. PHN occurs from damage to the nerve fibers, caused by the varicella zoster virus. Nerve fibers send messages from the skin to the brain. When nerve fibers are damaged during an outbreak of shingles, they are not able to send messages as they normally do. The body may perceive these "mixed messages" as pain.

For more information on PHN, see the section on shingles and PHN called Pain After Shingles.

Hutchinson's Sign*

Hutchinson's sign occurs when a shingles blister(s) appears on the tip of the nose. It indicates that the herpes zoster virus has invaded the nerve in the eye (ophthalmic nerve), and will cause painful swelling of the eye. This inflammation can cause temporary blindness and vision loss. You should see an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) immediately if you have shingles blisters on the tip of your nose.

Ramsay Hunt Syndrome*

The Ramsay Hunt Syndrome occurs when the herpes zoster virus spreads to the facial nerve, which causes intense ear pain. The shingles rash may appear on the outside of the ear, inside the ear canal, around the mouth, on the roof of the mouth, and on the neck, face, and scalp. When the shingles virus affects the facial nerve, hearing loss, dizziness, and facial paralysis may occur, which is usually temporary, but not always. If you experience shingles blisters on your ear, mouth, neck, face, or scalp, see your doctor right away.

Bacterial Skin Infection

The shingles rash may be itchy. Scratching the rash may damage the skin and introduce bacteria from the fingernails, resulting in a bacterial infection. A shingles rash that does not heal may be an indication that a bacterial infection is present. See your doctor immediately if the rash has worsened or is not healing.

Infection of Internal Organs

Your immune system, which protects your body from infections and disease, can become weakened from certain diseases and treatments. HIV infection and cancer are two diseases that weaken a person's immune system. People who have received an organ transplant take drugs that suppress their immune system so their body will not reject the transplant. Treatment for cancer may also weaken the immune system because it can damage cells of the immune system along with destroying cancerous cells.

Shingles can be dangerous in someone with a weakened immune system because the zoster virus can possibly spread throughout the body and reach vital organs like the lungs, central nervous system, and brain. Widespread infection like this can cause viral pneumonia or a secondary bacterial infection, which can be life-threatening. If you believe that you have a weakened immune system and develop shingles, it's important to see your doctor immediately.

*Important Information

Prescription oral FAMVIR^® (famciclovir) is not for everyone. In clinical studies with FAMVIR, the most common reported side effects included headache, nausea, and diarrhea. Ask your doctor if FAMVIR is right for you. If you have kidney problems, your doctor will determine if FAMVIR is appropriate and if so, what the right dose is for you. See the full Prescribing Information for more information about FAMVIR.

FAMVIR should be started within 72 hours (3 days) of the first sign of the shingles rash. Treatment started more than 72 hours (3 days) after the rash has appeared has not been studied.

The efficacy of FAMVIR has not been established for the treatment of ophthalmic shingles or disseminated shingles, or in shingles patients with a compromised immune system.